Lessons From Twenty Years Supporting Summer Camps
After more than twenty years in the business of supporting temporary populations, I have come to appreciate that some of the most complicated communities in America only exist for a few months each year. They are not cities, universities, or military bases. They are summer camps.
Most people associate camps with campfires, hiking trails, horseback riding, canoe docks, and cabins nestled beneath tall trees. Camp directors, however, see something entirely different. They see the responsibility of operating a residential community whose population may range from dozens to hundreds of campers and staff members living together continuously for weeks at a time.
Throughout our years at Royal Restrooms, we have had the opportunity to observe many different temporary communities. Weddings, festivals, disaster response operations, long-term construction projects, sporting events, and seasonal camps each present their own unique challenges. Yet one lesson has remained remarkably consistent. Once people begin living in a place rather than merely visiting it, the operational demands change significantly. Expectations surrounding sanitation, bathing, handwashing, wastewater management, and laundry become increasingly important.
Summer camps are particularly fascinating because they represent a combination of tradition and responsibility. Many camps have existed for generations. Their histories are measured not in years but in decades. Yet while the traditions remain familiar, attendance has grown, expectations have changed, and regulations have become more sophisticated. Camp operators are now expected to preserve cherished traditions while simultaneously maintaining modern standards for health, safety, and sanitation.
Health and Sanitation Standards Are Fundamental
Organizations such as the American Camp Association and individual state health departments devote considerable attention to sanitation and hygiene standards because camps represent close-knit communities. Hundreds of people may share sleeping quarters, dining halls, recreational facilities, and common spaces. Maintaining appropriate restroom facilities, bathing areas, handwashing stations, and wastewater systems is essential to protecting the health and wellbeing of campers and staff alike.
These requirements are not simply recommendations. They form the foundation upon which successful camp operations are built.
Parents may never ask about restroom-to-camper ratios or the procedures used to maintain shower facilities, but camp directors certainly do. They understand that maintaining healthy environments contributes directly to positive experiences and helps reduce interruptions caused by illness or operational challenges.
Summer Camps Never Really Close
Unlike many businesses or weekend events, overnight camps operate continuously. Meals are served throughout the day. Towels and linens accumulate. Staff members rotate shifts. Campers return from hiking excursions, waterfront activities, horseback riding, and athletic programs. Showers remain in constant use and facilities require ongoing maintenance.
In many respects, camp directors function much like city managers, responsible for providing essential services twenty-four hours a day.
This reality creates unique infrastructure demands. Existing bathhouses may require renovation. Attendance levels may exceed original capacities. New activity areas may need support facilities. Seasonal programs may expand beyond what permanent infrastructure was originally designed to accommodate.
These are challenges that many camps quietly address every summer.
The Growing Role of Flexible Infrastructure
Over the years, we have witnessed camps increasingly adopt flexible infrastructure solutions as part of long-term operational planning.
Restroom trailers may provide additional capacity during renovations or periods of peak attendance. Shower trailers support larger camper populations and extended programs. Sink trailers help maintain handwashing capabilities near dining facilities and activity centers. Laundry trailers assist with the constant demands associated with linens, towels, uniforms, and camper clothing.
Interestingly, many camp directors no longer view these services as temporary emergency measures. Instead, they have become tools that allow organizations to grow while preserving existing facilities and maintaining high standards throughout the season.
Laundry May Be One of the Most Overlooked Operations
One topic rarely discussed outside camp management circles is laundry.
Yet anyone responsible for operating an overnight camp understands its importance. Towels, bedding, kitchen linens, uniforms, and clothing accumulate quickly when hundreds of people live together for weeks at a time. Laundry operations become a daily necessity rather than an occasional chore.
Like many support services, laundry attracts little attention when everything functions properly. However, disruptions quickly affect the overall experience and increase demands on camp staff.
For camps operating multiple sessions or extended programs, access to additional laundry capacity can significantly improve operational efficiency.
Supporting Experiences Rather Than Equipment
After two decades, I have learned that successful infrastructure is often invisible. Campers remember friendships, counselors, traditions, and adventures. They remember canoe races and camp songs. They remember lessons learned and stories shared around campfires.
Rarely do they remember the facilities themselves and that that is exactly how it should be.
At Royal Restrooms, we have come to appreciate that our role extends beyond delivering equipment. Whether supporting restroom facilities, shower operations, handwashing stations, or laundry services, we are ultimately helping camp directors maintain the standards required to create meaningful experiences for the communities they serve.
Because while summer camps may exist for only a season, the memories they create often last a lifetime.
